Exports may grow by 9%

Exports may grow by 9%

Zakki P. Hakim, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

The country's non-oil and gas exports in the first nine months of
this year were expected to register surprisingly strong growth,
despite signs of slowing economic activity in key export markets
due to the current global oil hike.

A senior official at the Ministry of Trade, speaking on
condition of anonymity, said that the non-oil and gas export
figure during the January to September period likely grew by
around 9 percent from US$35.41 billion compared to the same
period last year.

"BPS officials were surprised too... They have been checking
with us repeatedly. But we'll still wait for the official result
on Monday," he said.

He was optimistic that the government's 7 percent non-oil and
gas export growth target of $50.73 billion for this year would be
achieved.

The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) is expected to announce
the official trade figures on Monday.

BPS export statistics official Dantes Simbolon confirmed the 9
percent growth figure.

But he said that the agency was still finalizing the trade
figures.

Dantes said that the strong economic growth in China and other
parts of Asia had contributed to the relatively stronger export
growth of the country.

"The high gain is mostly due to China, which is now the
locomotive in the region," he said.

Indonesia's largest non-oil and gas markets are Japan, the
U.S., Singapore, China and Malaysia.

This year and next year, the Ministry also is hoping for an
increase in exports of textile and apparel products, footwear and
electronic components.